StreetsAhead Tranent

‘This project has been a wonderful opportunity for the children to be connected and it has given them a platform to be included in their community’
– Sharon Saunders, Head of Children’s Wellbeing, East Lothian Council

‘It could change what people do about the future of Tranent, like East Lothian Council. They could see our mural and think “Oh, this would be a good thing to build” and they could work with an urban planner for where to put it. I feel good doing this and our dreams could come true.’
– MCP

‘I loved the imagination and just the principle of children being involved. I hope that the processes of development and planning, etc. in Fa’side will now always think to the views of children and have some of that colour in them.’
– Parent

As part of the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016 and the Festival of Architecture, StreetsAheadTranent explored children’s views and experiences of their local community and built environment; examining how these factors impact on children’s rights and wellbeing.

250 children from Elphinstone, Windygoul, St. Martin’s RC, Ormiston and Sanderson’s Wynd primaries participated in whole class workshops with a strong emphasis on creativity through an intergenerational and heritage theme. These workshops included inputs from local community members, urban designers, historians and wildlife rangers.

Following nine workshops, a small group of 16 children from across the five schools engaged in an intensive creative process that included visits to historical sites, includingPrestongrangeMuseum, Seton Collegiate Church and the APOGI project, tours ofTranentHigh Street, and working with artists, drama facilitators and local professionals to create a mural reflecting the views of all 250 children who took part. This project resulted in a 36’ x 4’ mural and a series of films that showcase theStreetsAheadjourney, from classroom workshops through creation of the mural to a series of exhibitions and events that shareStreetsAheadTranentwith community members and stakeholders.

Due to the energy and commitment from stakeholders, StreetsAheadTranent was invited to the UNCRC Day of General Discussion in Geneva. Children’s Parliament, the International Play Association and the Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland (CYPCS) worked with Terre des Hommes to developUnder the Same Sky [www.childrensparliament.org.uk/under-the-same-sky], an international constellation of projects that shared children’s views on the environments in which they are growing up. This comprisedprojects from six countries – Mozambique, Australia, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Brazil and Scotland.

Initially, through support from Scottish Government and CYPCS, Children’s Parliament aimed to get the mural to Geneva and share a film from the project. However, East Lothian Council and theFa’sideArea Partnership viewed this as an opportunity for increased attainment and raised aspirations for the participating children and contributed funds to allow the children to travel to Geneva to share their work directly with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and other children and adults from around the world. This was a huge honour for Children’s Parliament and we are so proud of the StreetsAhead children for all their hard work throughout this project.

StreetsAheadTranentdemonstrates the possibilities for how children’s voices can be included in local and global dialogue, if adults are willing to invest the time and resources needed to create appropriate and supportive opportunities for children to engage, to listen to and value their contributions. Children’s voices should have a ripple effect, influencing life in those spheres closest to them as well as the wider discussions of national and global significance.

The mural is set to become a piece of public art displayed outside Ross High School, Tranent.